Features (8)

The L.A. beat scene is made up of a sprawling collective of musicians—including Flying Lotus, the Gaslamp Killer, and Shlohmo—that is aiming to bridge connections between left-field electronic styles and underground rap. By Nate Patrin.

The mysterious field of library music has been an endless sample source for hip-hop producers as well as an inspiration for experimentalists and period-piece scavengers alike. Nate Patrin breaks down the genre and offers a playlist of highlights.

By combining raw vocalists with elegant, string-laden production, this imprint redefined the idea of R&B during the post-civil-rights 1970s. Nate Patrin offers an introduction to the label as well as a 10-track playlist of hits and deep cuts.